School Desegregation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

School Desegregation. Jennifer Satola Mark Soeder. Brown v. Board of Education 1954. Linda Brown, age 7, from Topeka, Kansas Traveled by foot & bus 21 blocks to her all-black elementary school Had to walk through a train yard There was an all-white school 7 blocks away

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“We come to the question presented: Does segregation of public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other “tangible” factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does…. To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone…. We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” -Earl Warren

In 1957, 75 African American students filled out applications to enter Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Board of Education narrowed the number to 9, all of whom had strong educational backgrounds.

The 9 students, who were known as the Little Rock Nine, met much community resistance as they tried to enter the school.

“For a moment, all I could hear was the shuffling or their feet. Then, someone shouted. ‘Here she comes. Get ready…’ The crowd moved in closer and then began to follow me, calling me names. I still wasn’t afraid. Just a bit nervous. Then my knees started to shake all of a sudden and I wondered whether I could make it to the center entrance a block away. It was the longest block I ever walked in my life.” - Elizabeth Eckford

“In that city, under the leadership of demagogic extremists, disorderly mobs have deliberately prevented the carrying out of proper orders from a federal court. Local authorities have not eliminated that violent opposition and, under the law, I yesterday issued a proclamation calling upon the mob to disperse. This morning the mob again gathered in front of the Central High School of Little Rock, obviously for the purpose of again preventing the carrying out of the court’s order relating to the admission of Negro children to that school.” – President Eisenhower

“And then the whole school was ringed with paratroopers and helicopters hovering around. We marched up the steps in this circle of soldiers with bayonets drawn…. And walking up the steps that day was probably one of the biggest feelings I’ve ever had. I figured I’d finally cracked it.” – Ernest Green

Cleveland Public Schools remained segregated long after Brown v. Board of Education. Pictured here is Central High School, an all-black school. Just a few blocks away was East Tech, a predominantly all-white school.

In 1976, Federal Judge Frank Battisti issued the Reed v. Rhodes decision. The Court found evidence of over 200 separate incidents of racial segregation in the Cleveland Public Schools. In finding for the plaintiffs, the Court rejected the school board's defense of "neighborhood schools." The Court eventually ordered a desegregation plan that consisted of educational programs to correct the effects of segregation, integration of teachers and professional staffs, safety and security measures, and, most controversially, student reassignment to promote desegregation.

These four students are from the Waverly Elementary School on Cleveland’s West Sided. Newspapers reported that when schools opened in September 1979, the desegregation was peaceful. No problems were reported, although attendance rates were lower than usual for the first day of school. District-wide, attendance was at 77%. In the past, the average for the first day of school was 85%.